On the 11th anniversary of Jürgen Klopp taking charge of Liverpool FC, the club has unveiled a permanent tribute to the legendary manager at Anfield.
The tribute’s centrepiece is an 18-inch bronze statue of Klopp, wearing his trademark cap, with one hand over his heart and the other raised in a clenched-fist salute to fans. Sculpted by Andy Edwards of Castle Fine Arts Foundry, the company responsible for
the Bob Paisley statue outside the club store and the iconic Beatles statue on Liverpool’s waterfront, it is an exact replica of the 18-inch bronze statue the supporters’ union presented to Klopp as a gesture of gratitude for everything he achieved during his time as Liverpool manager.
At the time of Klopp’s departure, Paul Khan, chair of Spirit of Shankly, said of the statue:
“Jürgen was a special manager who got this club, the city and most importantly the supporters from day one. The greatest tribute you can possibly say is he has so many similarities with the great Bill Shankly – honesty, integrity, passion and a born winner.”
“As Liverpool fans, we have been absolutely privileged and honoured to have had Jürgen as our manager. The days and nights he gave us will always be remembered. We hope this small gesture is a fitting tribute to all Jürgen has done and can be appreciated by all fans who visit the museum.”
Karen Gill, granddaughter of Shankly and Spirit of Shankly patron, helped to present the statue to the LFC museum:
“My grandad Bill Shankly and Jürgen Klopp belong to very different eras, but both understood what makes Liverpool Football Club so special – its people, its history and its sense of community.”
“So it was a real honour to present the statue to the museum on behalf of the Spirit of Shankly.”
